Without Meaningful Youth Participation in Decision-Making, There Can Be No Sustainable Development of Society
Statement by the Center for Democracy Foundation on the occasion of International Youth Day On the occasion of 12 August, International Youth Day, the Center for Democracy Foundation (CDF) calls on decision-makers, state institutions and local self-governments to ensure the systematic and meaningful inclusion of young people in decision-making processes. At a time when society is facing significant demographic, socio-economic and political challenges, while a large percentage of young people are still considering leaving the country, the key message is that young people are not only the future, but key actors of the present. Their voices, energy and proposals must…
Full Support for the Continuation of Accession Negotiations and the Strengthening of Regional Cooperation
Statement by the Intersectoral Working Group for Regional Cooperation and the Working Group for Chapter 31 of the National Convention on the European Union At a joint meeting of the Intersectoral Working Group for Regional Cooperation and the Working Group for Chapter 31 of the National Convention on the European Union, members of both working groups discussed current issues of relevance to the foreign policy of the Republic of Serbia, the European integration process, and regional cooperation in the Western Balkans. In the conclusions adopted at the meeting, the participants expressed their full support for the continuation of accession negotiations…
ILO Convention on Decent Work in the Platform Economy: An Important Step Towards Better Protection of Workers’ Socio-Economic Rights
The Center for Democracy Foundation welcomes the adoption of the International Labour Organization (ILO) Convention on Decent Work in the Platform Economy, as the digital economy can contribute to development only if it is based on respect for human dignity and the socio-economic rights of workers. The ILO Convention represents an important step towards ensuring that platform workers, regardless of their formal employment status, are recognized as holders of labour and socio-economic rights. It establishes the first internationally binding standards governing work in the platform economy, including protection against the misclassification of employment status, greater transparency of algorithmic management, protection…
NCEU: Transparency Is a Requirement, not a Courtesy
Statement by the NCEU Intersectoral Working Group for Monitoring the Implementation of the Reform Agenda of the Republic of Serbia The second meeting of the EU-Serbia Reform and Growth Facility (RGF) Monitoring Committee was held in Belgrade on 3 June 2026. The Monitoring Committee is a tripartite body in which the National Convention on the European Union (NCEU) participates as a full member with voting rights. The meeting gathered representatives of the European Commission, Serbian public authorities, civil society organisations, embassies of EU Member States, and international organisations. Discussions focused on the implementation of the Reform and Growth Facility across…
Amendments to Public Policy Regulations Reduce Transparency and Public Participation
National Convention on the European Union (NCEU) At the end of March, the Government of the Republic of Serbia adopted amendments to two regulations: the Regulation on Regulatory Impact Assessment and the Regulation on the Methodology for Developing Public Policy Documents. These amendments introduce the possibility to exempt laws and strategic documents developed within the EU accession process from the obligation to conduct impact assessments and public consultations. In practice, this means that for a large number of laws and public policies, their effects on citizens and the economy will no longer be evaluated, nor will there be an obligation…
Restricting Public Participation in Law-Making Processes Undermines Serbia’s EU Integration Process
National Convention on the European Union (NCEU) In the past two weeks, the competent ministries have opened public consultations on draft laws in four areas covered by negotiation Chapters 23 and 24. These include amendments to the Family Law, as well as three new laws: the Law on Weapons and Ammunition, the Law on Internal Affairs, and the Law on the Processing of Personal Data in the Field of Internal Affairs. With regard to the implementation of these public consultations, the working groups of the National Convention on the European Union (NCEU) for Chapters 23 and 24 have identified several…
Working Group of the NCEU: Amendments to the Labour Law Should Be Conducted Through a Transparent Process
Meeting of the Working Group of the National Convention on the European Union for Chapters 2 and 19 Held The Working Group of the National Convention on the European Union (NCEU) for negotiating Chapters 2 (Free Movement of Workers) and 19 (Social Policy and Employment) held a meeting on 11 March 2026 from 10:00 to 13:30 at the NCEU Secretariat. The meeting was chaired by Nataša Vučković on behalf of the Center for Democracy Foundation (CDF), which also serves as the coordinator of this Working Group. During the meeting, the state of reforms in the field of labour law was…
Growing Inequalities in Society Require Urgent Social Policy Reforms
CDF Press Release on the Occasion of the World Day of Social Justice On the occasion of the World Day of Social Justice, the Center for Democracy Foundation warns of the difficult position of vulnerable groups in Serbia, the high risks of poverty, and growing inequalities in society. Nearly one fifth of Serbia’s citizens live at risk of poverty (19.7%), according to the latest available data from the Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia (RZS), while the at-risk-of-poverty or social exclusion rate stands at as much as 24.3% (in 2024). Households in Serbia spend the largest share of their…
Renewed attacks on civil society are contradictory to Serbia’s European path
National Convention on the European Union (NCEU) The National Convention on the European Union strongly condemns the publication of articles by pro-government tabloids that falsely and maliciously link the Youth Initiative for Human Rights, a member of the NCEU, to the vandalization of monuments in Belgrade. These articles are part of a broader campaign of discreditation against civil society in Serbia, which has intensified and culminated over the past year. Numerous civil society organisations in Serbia have been subjected to similar attacks, clearly demonstrating the lack of political will for Serbia to make genuine progress on its path towards European…
Urgent Amendments to Judicial Laws – Bypassing the Profession and European Standards and Amounting to Political Retaliation for “Disobedience”
National Convention on the European Union (NCEU) The Working Group of the National Convention on the European Union for Chapter 23 warns the public about the serious risks posed by the scheduling of an extraordinary session of the National Assembly for 14 January, at which amendments to systemic judicial laws will be considered under an urgent procedure.[1] The agenda of the extraordinary session includes the Draft Law on Amendments to the Law on the High Prosecutorial Council, the Draft Law on Amendments and Supplements to the Law on the Seats and Jurisdictions of Courts and Public Prosecutors’ Offices, the Draft…
Human Rights for All – the Foundation of a Democratic Society
Press Release on the Occasion of International Human Rights Day The Center for Democracy Foundation extends its congratulations to all citizens of Serbia on the occasion of International Human Rights Day! Human rights shape our everyday lives; therefore, respect for the rights, freedoms, and dignity of every individual is the basis for building a modern, democratic, and well-ordered society in which the citizens of Serbia wish to live. Serbia must implement genuine reforms of the state and society in order to move closer to the standards of democracy, human rights, and the rule of law enjoyed by citizens of developed countries in Europe and around the world….
Tripartite Meeting Held within the Multisectoral Working Group for Monitoring the Implementation of the Reform Agenda of the Republic of Serbia
National Convention on the European Union (NCEU) On Monday, December 1st, a technical tripartite meeting was held within the Monitoring Committee for the Reform and Growth Facility, attended by representatives of the Government of the Republic of Serbia, the European Commission, the Delegation of the European Union to Serbia, and the National Convention on the European Union. We remind that the NCEU participates as an equal member of the Committee, the body that oversees the implementation of the Reform Agenda, a planning document that represents the basis for access to EU financial support of up to EUR 1.6 billion under…
